what was the criteria for being invited this year? theres usually a breakdown listed of which teams and why, ie cup/league winners for the different areas and leagues represented.

At a guess:Bank Quay- Lancashire CupBlackbrook- NWML (in lieu of Bank Quay)Drighlington- Pennine LeagueHunslet Old Boys- Yorkshire CupBonymaen Broncos- winners of the collapsed South Wales League (why? no chance of them turning up IMO. Why not another Cumberland League side or a Hull League side?)

Other than that teams in tier 3 this year or next plus 5 of the 6 top flight universities (University of Gloucestershire the exception for obvious reasons)

The National Cup winners have never had a right to enter the Challenge Cup. Once upon a time the finalists got invited to the Regal Trophy.

Stop cutting hairs, I'm well aware of the history (first hand) of how, why & why not some teams do and others do not gain entrance into the challenge cup, the National Cup holders have been invited for the last few (not going to trawl looking) seasons.

My point is if Queens are banned why didn't the RFL give this place to the runners up (Sharlston) in my eyes the RFL set a presidence of inviting the runners up in a competition once they invited Bristol (Not going into it because the bigger picture has started to develop and we never made much noise about it at the time)

Or is this just another way that the RFL are going to turn the knife into BARLA clubs because they would sooner play in a traditional seasons, maybe the only reason the county cup holders got an invite this season is because the Lancashire Cup winners went summer, I've a feeling that the Yorkshire Cup winners this season will also be out in the cold for the 2014 Challenge Cup.

Carlsberg don't do Soldiers, but if they did, they would probably be Brits.

At a guess:Bank Quay- Lancashire CupBlackbrook- NWML (in lieu of Bank Quay)Drighlington- Pennine LeagueHunslet Old Boys- Yorkshire CupBonymaen Broncos- winners of the collapsed South Wales League (why? no chance of them turning up IMO. Why not another Cumberland League side or a Hull League side?)

Other than that teams in tier 3 this year or next plus 5 of the 6 top flight universities (University of Gloucestershire the exception for obvious reasons)

Are Fryston banned from the Challenge Cup?

Carlsberg don't do Soldiers, but if they did, they would probably be Brits.

If anyone is in our neck of the woods and fancies seeing the Sonics take on Eccles in the first qualifying round, the match will take place this Saturday (27th October) at Clifton RFC, Cribbs Causeway, kick-off 2.00pm.

If anyone is in our neck of the woods and fancies seeing the Sonics take on Eccles in the first qualifying round, the match will take place this Saturday (27th October) at Clifton RFC, Cribbs Causeway, kick-off 2.00pm.

Could be just one of a few games to be played as it's forecast snow up here.

Carlsberg don't do Soldiers, but if they did, they would probably be Brits.

If anyone is in our neck of the woods and fancies seeing the Sonics take on Eccles in the first qualifying round, the match will take place this Saturday (27th October) at Clifton RFC, Cribbs Causeway, kick-off 2.00pm.

Might have a bit of that. Are the Sonics up for it or is it likely to be a one sided encounter?

Might have a bit of that. Are the Sonics up for it or is it likely to be a one sided encounter?

Well, the 17 that turns out will be mostly made up of first team players. Ih our last game a couple of weeks back, we put out a team of mixed first/second team players and only lost by six points to the University of Gloucestershire's first team.

It could end up being one-sided - it depends what team Eccles bring etc - but our lads are definitely 'up for it'.

Plus, it's the last bit of Rugby League in this part of the world until the new year I'd have thought.